Retail chiefs blame SNP after 6,400 jobs are lost

RETAIL bosses have blamed a ‘toxic cocktail’ of growing rates and regulation from the Scottish Government for the loss of 6,400 jobs in the industry in just one year.

Official figures show the number of people employed in the key sector shrank from 50,300 in 014 to 43,900 in 015.

The latest fall means the number of people employed in retailing was 16,400 lower than it was in 008, according to the Scottish Annual Business Statistics.

The data also showed there were 187 fewer retail units in 015 than in the previous year, with the total dropping to ,4 5. By comparison with 008, there were 1,831 fewer stores, said the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC).

Describing the declining number of shops and workers as ‘a wake-up call’ to ministers, SRC director David Lonsdale said: ‘These latest figures graphically highlight the impact of the toxic cocktail of burgeoning tax and regulatory costs and transformational change in the retail industry.

‘Sadly, our warnings about the impact of rising government-imposed costs on an industry in profound transition are being borne out, with fewer jobs and fewer retail stores.’ The SRC is calling for the Scottish Government to scrap the additional levy paid by larger stores in Scotland.

Mr Lonsdale also called for a moratorium on any new business rates charges in Finance Secretary Derek Mackay’s proposals for 018-19.

He said: ‘Earlier this week we laid out a number of actions the Scottish Government should bring forward in its upcoming budget to encourage investment by retailers in stores and distribution centres, in particular restoring parity with England on the large business rates supplement.’

He criticised the ‘self-defeating Scotland-only rates surcharge’, saying it cost retailers £1 million a year, with some 5,100 stores across Scotland affected.

Mr Lonsdale warned: ‘If we fluff this opportunity to bear down on the costs of doing business, we risk failing to stem, let alone reverse, the decline in retail jobs and shops, especially in our more economically fragile communities.’ 11,400 firms in rates appeal – Page 30